PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 7 Eastern Oregon University volleyball team attacked for its highest percentage in program history (.500), and the Mountaineers swept Warner Pacific (25-11, 25-14, 25-17) in the process on Friday night in Portland, Ore.

"Our team played very consistent tonight, and I'm proud of how offensive and effective we were," said head volleyball coach Kaki McLean Morehead. "As we are almost halfway through the regular season, it is good to see us figuring out our offensive effectiveness as well as what different players bring to our team in that manner."

Key Performances

Sophomore middle hitter Emily Nay led the squad with 10 kills and hit .625 to pave the way for EOU, while sophomore right side hitter Isabelle Statkus and junior outside hitter Sierra Linke tallied nine and eight kills, respectively.

Both senior libero Piper Cantrell and freshman defensive specialist Holli Mullins served up three aces apiece, while junior setter Rachelle Chamberlain dished out a match-high 39 assists.

Defensively, junior defensive specialist Sara Pulaski's eight digs led the way for the Navy and Gold.

The Storyline

EOU opened the first frame with a 19-6 run capped by a pair of service aces by Cantrell. Warner Pacific's Janessa White swung in for a kill to trim the Navy and Gold's lead to 11 (20-9), but EOU responded with four straight points, including two kills from Linke, to grasp set point. Leading 24-11, Nay attacked for the kill to grant the Mountaineers set one.

Although the Knights grabbed an early 6-4 lead in the second set, it didn't last long. A Nay kill ignited a 19-6 burst to give EOU a 23-12 advantage. A service error lifted the Mountaineers to set point (24-14), and then Warner Pacific committed another error to forfeit the second stanza.

The third frame mirrored the first two sets in that EOU utilized runs to break away. Nay attacked for a kill and then teamed up with Chamberlain for a block assist to snatch EOU's largest lead of the set (18-10), but the Knights (4-6, 3-4 CCC) managed to claw within five (21-16) after a kill by Grace Rivers.

After a block assist by Statkus and junior middle hitter Kasaundra Tuma lifted the Mountaineers to match point, freshman middle hitter Karlee Hollis swung in for the final kill to give EOU its eighth straight win.

Stat of the Match

.500 – Best attacking percentage for a single match in EOU volleyball history.

Up Next

EOU (12-1, 7-0 CCC) returns to the hardwood tomorrow against Multnomah in Portland at 5 p.m.